Hamilton is moving to lockdown Monday. Moving into red zone or ‘restrict’, is Niagara Region and nearby Brant County.

Earlier, the province announced Toronto and Peel Region will remain in lockdown until at least January 4th.

“The trends we’re seeing throughout Ontario are very, very concerning,” said Premier Doug Ford ahead of an emergency meeting with Ontario hospital leaders. The Ford government is coming under increasing pressure to order further lockdown restrictions.”I’ve asked for an emergency meeting CEO’s of all hospitals in Ontario, I want to listen to what’s happening on the ground within the hospitals, and within ICU units.”

Ford says he’ll make an announcement on Monday  at 1 p.m. on further lockdowns or restrictions in hot spots and across the province.

One proposal reportedly under consideration is a lockdown across southern Ontario from Boxing Day until January 11th.

One source describes it as a modified version of Stage 1, restrictions that were imposed across the province after the initial lockdown was lifted earlier this year.

The source says the government is considering imposing stricter measures in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas than in the rest of the lockdown zone. But the official word comes Monday.

Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath accuses Doug Ford of ‘dragging his’ feet on the COVID file by delaying any announcement on future restrictions. “He’s going to make an announcement on Monday, five days after that very scary warning and stern warning from the Ontario Hospital Association, it’s just not good enough.”